In his second debut for Sevilla in La Liga, Sergio Ramos left an immediate impact, assisting his team in securing their first victory of the season while maintaining a clean sheet.
Ramos assumed a leadership role in the defensive line during a hard-fought 1-0 triumph over Las Palmas. This win marked Sevilla’s first point of the season after enduring three consecutive defeats. Notably, another newcomer, Dodi Lukebakio, clinched victory with a decisive 71st-minute goal at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium.
The return of Ramos to the club came after an astonishing 18-year gap, tracing back to the inception of his professional career. However, his reception by the home crowd was mixed, a consequence of past incidents during his tenure at Real Madrid, where confrontations with Sevilla’s players and fans left lingering tensions.
Sevilla record their first win and clean sheet of the season in Sergio Ramos’ first match back at the club after losing their first three games 😮
Instant impact 😤👏 pic.twitter.com/G4kLEBL8LO
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) September 17, 2023
Nevertheless, Ramos expressed a heartfelt commitment to rectify past mistakes and contribute to his new team’s climb up the league standings, following a challenging start to their campaign.
In a gesture of profound respect for his father and grandfather, both devoted supporters of the club, Ramos turned down a substantially higher offer from Saudi Arabia to return to his boyhood team.
During his debut, the 37-year-old defender showcased his prowess with one crucial block, four vital clearances, two crucial interceptions, eight defensive actions, and six recoveries.
Sevilla‘s faithful fans are now fervently hoping that Ramos will maintain his stellar performance and lead the team as they prepare for their upcoming UEFA Champions League opener against Lens on September 20.
Sergio Ramos needs to adapt as per Sevilla’s manager
Sevilla’s manager, Jose Luis Mendilibar, shared his insights and advice for Sergio Ramos following their victory over Las Palmas.
In a conversation with Diario AS, Mendilibar acknowledged the need for Ramos to adapt to his new team, which may not possess the same level of prowess as his previous clubs.
Mendilibar emphasized, “He is the one who speaks on the field of play, the one who calls the shots. But we have to change his ideas, he wants to play out from the back and that is not our game. We play more directly and from there we play in the opponent’s half. We arrived at a difficult time last season and there are things that we do not want to happen again“.
Sevilla lost all the first 3 games of the season.
Sergio Ramos plays his first game back and Sevilla win their first game & keep a clean sheet 🔥 pic.twitter.com/2hqvSGLp8J
— X Football (@X__Football) September 18, 2023
Further elaborating, Mendilibar clarified, “He also has to play our game. He has played in clubs that have always dominated, now he is in a team in which we are not so dominant. And we all have to change the mindset, Sergio also has to change his mindset“.
In contrast, Ramos expressed his elation after the match, stating that he could “die happy” following his second debut at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. In terms of debuts, this marked an exceptionally positive start for the center-back as he continues to acclimate to his new environment and forge connections with his teammates.
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